Teacher Notes
WHICH CONTINENT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN WWII? USE YOUR “INFERENCE” SKILLS TO DETERMINE AN EFFECT OF “EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION” ◦ Hint: analyze the involvement of India and African nations…
i/world-war-i-history/videos/u-boats-sink- the-lusitania-in-1915
British intercept and decode a message send from Germany foreign secretary, Arthur Zimmerman to German ambassador in Mexico Note said that Germany would help Mexico “reconquer” all the land that it lost to the U.S., if Mexico would ally itself with Germany Last straw – U.S. joins the war on April 2, 1917
Total war – all resources go to war effort Governments told factories what to produce and how much Many factories transformed to produce ammunition Unemployment almost non-existent (everyone who can… is working) Rationing – can only buy small amounts of those items that were also needed for the war effort
Propaganda – government censors war news ◦ one-sided information used to persuade people to support war and to keep up morale TURN AND TALK… The goal of “propaganda” is to promote which “ism”?
Russia is forced to withdraw from war because of revolts on its home front (Russian Revolution) Czar Nicholas gives up throne and is killed a year later Finally, Lenin returns and gains power ◦ Lenin insists an end to involvement in war
Central Powers began to crumble ◦ Bulgarians surrender ◦ Ottoman Turks surrender Revolution in Austria-Hungary brings empire to an end In Germany, soldiers mutinied (abandoned, quit, ran away) and public outrage forced Kaiser Wilhelm II (German ruler at the time) to step down
Armistice – agreement to stop fighting Allied forces and Germany sign an armistice on November 11, 1918 Peace talks begin in Versailles ◦ Known as Paris Peace Conference
Major players: Woodrow Wilson (U.S.) – comes up with a “14 point” plan for peace David Lloyd George (Britain) Georges Clemenceau (France) Vittorio Orlando (Italy) Wilson’s “14 Point” plan is rejected for the most part
Treaty of Versailles signed by Allied forces and Germany on June 28, 1919 League of Nations is created ◦ League of Nations attempts to be the official peacekeeper of Europe ◦ 32 Allied and neutral nations ◦ Basically…Wilson’s “14 th ” point of his peace plan ◦ Unfortunately, without the U.S., it is weak and not really effective
Territorial Losses: Germany has to surrender or return control of many territories such as ALL of its overseas colonies in Africa and the Pacific Military Restrictions: ◦ Size of German army is limited ◦ Prohibited from importing or manufacturing weapons or war materials ◦ Forbidden to build or buy submarines ◦ Forbidden to have an air force
The “League of Nations” was created to help establish world peace…but wasn’t really successful. What do we have now to act as the “world’s police”? How do you think Germany felt about the Treaty of Versailles?
Treaty of Versailles of more about revenge than peace Germany had to accept sole responsibility for the war (take all the blame) Germany forced to pay $33 billion to Allied forces over the next 30 years (pay Allied forces back for cost of war) Harsh treatment of German post-world war I leads to World War II